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    Logo courtesy of Universal Pictures. © 2013 Universal Studios

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    Source: Universal Pictures Official Site: 47roninmovie.com (US), 47ronin.jp (Japan) Keanu Reeves (THE MATRIX trilogy, SPEED) makes an explosive return to action-adventure in 47 RONIN, Universal Pictures` epic 3D fantasy-adventure. Reeves leads the cast as Kai, an outcast who joins Kuranosuke Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), the leader of the 47 outcast samurai. To restore honor to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors. While based on the Japanese story Chushingura, the film crosses the theme of Japanese history with that of modern Hollywood cinema to expand the original story into something completely new. 47 RONIN was released in Japan by Toho Towa on December 6, and opens in the United States from Universal on December 19, 2013. For more information on 47 RONIN, please see the previous coverage here

    Jiro dreams of becoming a top aeronautical engineer in the Studio Ghibli animated feature THE WIND RISES from director Hayao Miyazaki. Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli and Wild Bunch. © 2013 Nibariki ? GNDHDDTK

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    North American Premiere for New Studio Ghibli Film on September 11th Source: Studio Ghibli, Wild Bunch Official Movie Site: kazetachinu.jp (Japan) Studio Ghibli`s THE WIND RISES (????, Kaze Tachinu, 2013), the new film by Hayao Miyazaki, will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. SYNOPSIS Jiro dreams of flying and designing aircraft inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical engineer, Gianni Caproni. Near-sighted from a young age and therefore unable to become a pilot, in 1927 he began working in a leading Japanese aeronautical engineering company. His talent was soon recognized and grows until Jiro becomes one of the most successful aircraft designers in the world... DIRECTOR`S STATEMENT The designer of the fighter plane `Zero`, Jiro Horikoshi, and his predecessor, Italian Gianni Caproni, share the same aspiration, united by a friendship that goes beyond time

    Battra joins Bandai`s S.H.MonsterArts line in 2014. Photo courtesy of Bluefin. © 1992 Toho Pictures, Inc. BATTRA, GODZILLA and the character design are trademarks of Toho Co., Ltd. © 1992, 2013 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Godzilla - Toho

    High-Res Photos of Upcoming Godzilla Foe Figure from Bandai Source: Bluefin Corp. S.H.MonsterArts Official Site: tamashii.jp/shma (Japan) Special Thanks to Xavier Lim The popular kaiju Battra from the film GODZILLA VS MOTHRA (???VS???, Gojira tai Mosura, 1992) joins the S.H.MonsterArts series! The figure sculpt has been master crafted in exquisite detail by Yuji Sakai, and features clear parts as part of his head for enhanced realism. Battra also features advanced articulation -- a characteristic of the S.H.MonsterArts series -- maw, wing and leg areas are also fully articulated. In addition, a special display stand has been included in this set to portray Battra in flying poses. A Tamashii Web Exclusive in Japan, this figure has been made a regular release in the US thanks to the folks at Bluefin. S.H.MonsterArts Battra/ S.H.MonsterArts ??????? Product Size: Width Approximately 320mm Material: ABS, PVC Shipping: January 2014 Distributed by: Tamashii

    A young mother raises her lycanthrope children in the third film by award-winning anime director Mamoru Hosoda. Image courtesy of Nippon Vonnection. © 2012 “WOLF CHILDREN” Film Partners

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    Source: NTV, Nippon Connection Official Site: ookamikodomo.jp (Japan), funimation.com/wolf-children (US) Additional Material: FUNimation, GKids Mamoru Hosoda is one of the top animation directors in the world today. In THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME (??????? Toki o Kakeru Shojo, 2006), he portrayed the coming of age of a female high school student with a supernatural power to leap through time. In SUMMER WARS (???????, Samaa Uozu, 2009), he used on his own experiences with his in-laws to depict the bond between a big extended family and a high school student who lives both in cyberspace and the real world. Hosoda`s long-awaited third film WOLF CHILDREN (???????????, Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki) was released in 2012. Its theme is "parent and child," the next step beyond the "coming of age" and "marriage" themes of his two previous films. The film reveals the meeting

    Six men -- Haruki (Junpei Mizobata), Noda (Kenta Kiritani), Kota (Satoshi Tsumabuki), Kitagawa (Tadanobu Asano), Momo (Shim Chang-Min) and Zii-chan (Toshiyuki Nishida) -- plan a daring bank heist in FLY WITH THE GOLD. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co. © 2012 Fly With The Gold Production Partners

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    Screening July 20th in NYC Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Japan Society Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett The slow-burn bank heist drama FLY WITH THE GOLD (????????, Ogon wo Daite Tobe, 2012) will have its US Premiere on Saturday, July 20 during Japan Cuts: The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema. The screening will take place 7:00 pm at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street - Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium, New York, NY 10017). FLY WITH THE GOLD is adapted from Naoki Prize-winning author Takamura Kaoru`s crime suspense debut novel about six wily men who attempt to steal gold bullion from the underground vault of a megabank in Osaka. Kota (Satoshi Tsumabuki), who has been working for underworld figures as a procurer, is reunited with his university friend Kitagawa (Tadanobu Asano) and decides to take part in his plan for a ¥1.5 billion

    Key art for KINMOZA! © 2013 Yui Hara, Houbunsha / Kiniro Mosaic Production Committee

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: kinmosa.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams The British are coming! The British are coming! Coming to Sentai Filmworks that is! Sentai’s latest acquisition is KINMOZA! (????????, Kin`iro Mozaiku, 2013), a 12 episode series directed by TENSHO, featuring character designs by Kazuyuki Ueta, with series composition by Yuniko Ayana, sound direction by Jin Aketagawa and music by Ruka Kawada. When Shinobu was still in middle school, she had the amazing opportunity to study in England while living with a host family as an exchange student. And while that was several years ago and she still doesn’t do all that well in English class, Shinobu has had warm feelings for everything English ever since. So when Shinobu learns that the daughter of her host family, Alice Cartelet, is coming to stay with her and study in Japan, she’s thrilled. But

    Image courtesy of J-POP Summit Festival. © Katsuya Terada

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    Prolific Artist Promotes New Retrospective Art Book with Special Live Freehand Drawing and Autograph Session Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: j-pop.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, the popular yearly San Francisco summertime Japanese Pop Culture celebration, has announced the appearance of one of Japan’s greatest illustrators -- Katsuya Terada -- as a special Guest of Honor. The popular annual weekend event, which returns for its 5th year to San Francisco’s Japantown district, celebrates Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, and film and will place on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th - 28th, 2013. Katsuya Terada’s special J-POP Summit appearance will also promote his new art book, Katsuya Terada 10 Ten - 10 Year Retrospective, published by PIE International. The artist will meet attendees during an autograph session on Saturday, July 27th from 11:30am to 1:30pm, and

    The incredible battle from WOLFMAN VS GODZILLA, the legendary indie production by filmmakers who worked on Toho`s Godzilla films! Photo courtesy of Shizuo Nakajima. © Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Uncovering the Truth Behind a Legendary Independent Film Author: Mark Jaramillo Special Thanks to Shizuo Nakajima and Tetsu Shiota My name is Mark Jaramillo. I have been a fan of Japanese giant monsters since I first saw Godzilla films on television as a child. I don`t remember exactly which film was my first, but I must have been about three or four years old. I grew up discovering not only new Godzilla movies, but other characters such as Gamera, Ultraman, and Giant Robot. I watched every science fiction film that would air on TV, even scanning the TV Guide for the upcoming week, circling the movies I wanted to see in pen. I never lost my love for these films as I grew older, and my interest was reignited with the making of new Godzilla films in 1984 and 1989. I wanted to

    Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura) battles oppressive censorship in LIBRARY WARS. Photo courtesy of TBS. ©

    Godzilla - Toho

    An Action-Packed Science-Fiction War Movie of the Near Future Source: TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) Official Movie Site: toshokan-sensou-movie.com (Japan) Special Thanks to Eriko Miura and Yuhka Matoi ‘With our own hands, we will preserve freedom...’ Their battle for books and the freedom to know begins now. On April 27, 2013, Toho released the live action feature film LIBRARY WARS (?????, Toshokan Senso). The movie is based on the Library War young-adult fiction by best-selling novelist Hiro Arikawa, previously adapted as an anime series in 2008 and the animated film LIBRARY WAR: THE WINGS OF REVOLUTION (????? ??????, Toshokan Senso Kakumei no Tsubasa) in 2012. LIBRARY WARS is now being offered for international distribution by TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System). TBS has kindly provided the following English text as well as photos and artwork for the movie... Production Notes Library War is the first novel

    Koichi Fujita (Takeru Sato) enters the subconscious of his lover, Atsumi Kazu (Haruka Ayase), to save her life in REAL, the new film from internationally acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Photo courtesy of TBS. © 2013

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    Source: TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) Official Movie Site: real-kubinagaryu.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Eriko Miura and Yuhka Matoi SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. Back in January, SciFi Japan previewed the upcoming Kiyoshi Kurosawa film REAL (?????????????, Riaru Kanzen Naru Kubinagaryu no Hi). With the movie opening in Japan on June 1st, we are pleased to present the English production notes and new images from the film courtesy of international sales agency, TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System)... The latest offering from one of Japan’s best-known filmmakers, director of TOKYO SONATA, RETRIBUTION, and BRIGHT FUTURE.? Psychological reality invades the realm of space-time in this elaborate SF fantasy puzzle. Production Notes Beginning with CURE (???, Kyua, 1997) and continuing through such films as PULSE (??, Kairo, 2001), BRIGHT FUTURE (???????, Akarui Mirai, 2003), DOPPELGANGER (????????, Dopperugenga, 2003),

    Tori Matsuzaka and Kilin Kiki star as a high school student and his grandmother -- each with the ability to connect the living and the dead -- in UNTIL THE BREAK OF DAWN. Image courtesy of NTV. © 2012 “Until the Break of Dawn” Film Partners

    Godzilla - Toho

    Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Movie Site: tsunagu-movie.net (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a Japanese movie not yet released in the United States. On October 6, 2012, Toho released UNTIL THE BREAK OF DAWN (???, Tsunagu) to theaters across Japan. NTV is now offering the film for international sales and has provided SciFi Japan with high-res images and English production notes... Introduction Who do you want to see one more time? Year 2011... It was perhaps a year that dramatically changed people’s values. Feeling the limits of a material society, they contemplated what is truly important. They sought to be connected with other people and realized the importance of human bonding and the warmth of family... This seems to be how many people feel today. The movie is based on a moving novel of

    © 2008 Toho Co., Ltd. / Hakusensha, Inc. /Sony Music Ent. (Japan) Inc. / Beyond C.

    Godzilla - Toho

    Both Series Debut this Week Source: Anime Network press release April is starting off on a high note, with two amazing new show premieres: the long awaited debut of DETROIT METAL CITY and the earth shattering first episode of TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0. Both shows are set to premiere on Anime Network Online as well as Anime Network VOD this week. Don`t miss them! DETROIT METAL CITY Rated: TV-MA Language: Subtitled VOD: Thur April 4, 2013 Online: Fri April 5, 2013 Get ready for the ear-splittingest, skull-smashingest band to ever assault your senses! They`re Detroit Metal City, the hottest ticket on the concert circuit! There`s just one catch. Beneath the makeup, these ultimate head bangers are hired doppelgangers who don`t even LIKE what they do! Jaggi is actually Wada, who wants to play Glam Rock; Camus is Nishida, an anime fan with an appalling weakness for curry and

    English promotional art for REAL. © 2013

    Godzilla - Toho

    Source: TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) After a five year break, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa returns to the silver screen with the mystery REAL (?????????????, Riaru Kanzen Naru Kubinagaryu no Hi). The film is based on Rokuro Inui`s 2011 novel A Perfect Day for Plesiosaur (Kanzen Naru Kubinagaryu no Hi), which won the grand prize at the annual This Mystery is Excellent! (???????????! Kono Misuterii ga Sugoi!) mystery fiction competition. Toho will release REAL in Japan on June 1st. Kurosawa directed such highly regarded films as CURE (???, Kyua, 1997), SEANCE (??, Kourei: Ushirowo Miruna, 1999) and CHARISMA (????, Karisuma, 2001) before coming to international attention with the J-Horror hit PULSE (??, Kairo, 2001). His last movie before REAL was the Cannes Prix Un Certain Regard winner TOKYO SONATA (????????) in 2008. Heading the cast of REAL are Takeru Sato and Haruka Ayase. Sato previously starred in MASKED

    Japanese advance poster for LIBRARY WARS. © 'Library Wars' Movie Project

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    Source: TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) Official Movie Site: toshokan-sensou-movie.com (Japan) Toho will release the live action feature film LIBRARY WARS (?????, Toshokan Senso) on April 27, 2013. The movie is based on the Library War novels written by Hiro Arikawa, previously adapted as an anime series in 2008 and the animated film LIBRARY WAR: THE WINGS OF REVOLUTION (????? ??????, Toshokan Senso Kakumei no Tsubasa) in 2012. In 2019, public anger at media excess has led to censorship of television, newspapers, the internet, books, movies, and music under the `Media Betterment Act`. To fight the armed `Betterment Squads` that go around destroying objectionable materials, the nation`s libraries have formed their own para-military `Library Corps`. Iku Kasahara is a new recruit to the corps, where her instructor and squad leader is Atsushi Dojo. At first repelled by his by-the-book approach to leadership, she is gradually won over

    UMIZARU`s Hideaki Ito plays a murderous high school teacher in LESSON OF THE EVIL, the new thriller from Takashi Miike. © 2012 Lesson of the Evil Film Partners

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    Latest Psycho Thriller from the Director of AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS and ICHI THE KILLER Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Movie Site: akunokyouten.com (Japan) Internationally renowned director Takashi Miike -- the filmmaker behind ICHI THE KILLER, AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS, HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI 3D, ACE ATTORNEY and FOR LOVE`S SAKE -- returns to the classroom with the bloody thriller LESSON OF THE EVIL (????, Aku no Kyoten, 2012). Adapted from Yusuke Kishi`s 2010 novel of the same name, the movie stars leading man Hideaki Ito (252: SIGNAL OF LIFE, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, THE LAST MESSAGE- UMIZARU, KAMUI), playing against type as a psychotic high school teacher. Prior to the movie`s release, the four episode television mini-series LESSON OF THE EVIL OPENING CHAPTER (???????, Aku no Kyoten Josho) aired on the mobile TV broadcasting service, BeeTV. The program introduced many of the characters and

    © POT (Yoshihiro Togashi) 1998-2012. © 2013

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    Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Movie Site: hxh-movie.jp (Japan) The ultra-popular Hunter x Hunter manga, with a legion of die-hard followers, goes into it`s 15th year with an exciting new chapter! The anime feature film HUNTER x HUNTER THE MOVIE: PHANTOM ROUGE (??? HUNTER×HUNTER ?????-??????????-, Gekijoo-ban HUNTER×HUNTER Hiiro no Genei -Fantomu Ruuju-) will open in theaters across Japan on January 12th, 2013. Introduction HUNTER x HUNTER is an epic saga of adventures. Penned by Yoshihiro Togashi, it has been serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha Inc.) magazine since 1998. It follows young Gon and his friends who aim to pass the demanding tests to become a Hunter. Their hopes and dreams touched a chord with young readers, pushing the manga to be a mega-hit, selling 60 million copies to date. The story of the first HUNTER x HUNTER movie, PHANTOM ROUGE, is

    Hayao Miyazaki`s KIKI`S DELIVERY SERVICE is one of fifteen Studio Ghibli films being shown at the IFC Center. Image courtesy of Disney. © 1989 Eiko Kadano • Nibariki • GN

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    Five Full Weeks at IFC Center; November 16-December 20 Source: GKIDS Inc. press release Official Site: gkids.tv/intheaters Back by popular demand, the 25 YEARS OF STUDIO GHIBLI retrospective returns to the IFC Center in New York (323 Sixth Avenue at West Third Street) from Friday, November 16 to Thursday, December 20, 2012. GKIDS, a distributor of award winning animation for both adults and family audiences, is bringing a complete retrospective of films from Japan’s renowned Studio Ghibli to The run features new 35mm prints of all fifteen Studio Ghibli feature films produced between 1984 and 2009, including Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award winning SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, CASTLE IN THE SKY, PONYO, HOWL`S MOVING CASTLE, and KIKI`S DELIVERY SERVICE. Films will be presented in both subtitled and English language versions (where available), with subtitled versions playing 6pm and

    Key art for EBITEN: KORITSU EBISUGAWA KOKO TENMONBU. © 2012 ??????????????????????

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: ebiten.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce their newest acquisition: EBITEN: KORITSU EBISUGAWA KOKO TENMONBU (???? ???????????, 2012)! Sometimes friendship is all about chemistry, but in this zany comedy from Director Hideki Okamoto chemistry is just about blowing things up! Featuring series composition by Yuuko Kakihara (PERSONA 4 THE ANIMATION, HEAVEN`S LOST PROPERTY), character designs by Atsuko Watanabe (OKAMIKAKUSHI, ACCHI KOCCHI) and sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (CANAAN, BODACIOUS SPACE PIRATES). Take one group of rabid fan girls with tenuous grips on reality, toss out all rules of proper social behavior, mix them together in a basement with more twisted anime parodies and allusions than you can shake a schtick at, and what do you get? Well, besides a recipe for disaster, if borderline delusional Kyoko Todayama is in what passes for charge,

    Store front of the newly opened ToyFreakz. Photo courtesy of David Oaks.

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    Interview with David Oaks, Toy Freakz Author: Bob Johnson Special thanks to Kevin deAntonio Let’s start with you. What is your background and how did you start Toy Freakz? I spent my first ten years in Hawaii. I think I was watching KIKAIDER and MAZINGER Z before I knew who Mickey Mouse was! My love of Japanese toys comes from my older brother. He traveled quite a bit and always seemed to find the most amazing robots for me. He has since passed on, but I remember how these toys made me feel and it stuck with me. I started Toyfreakz because I think Japanese design is amazing. Unfortunately, it can be both difficult and expensive to get hold of these spectacular toys. My goal with the website is to make these toys readily available here in the U.S., without the crazy retail markup. We also ship

    © Fate/stay night

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: staynight.com Special Thanks to David Williams Join the battle for the ultimate prize as Sentai Filmworks’ announces their latest acquisition, FATE / STAY NIGHT TV (???????????, Feito/Sutei Naito, 2005). Directed by Yuji Yamaguchi (ANGEL LINKS TV) with character designs by Megumi Ishihara, sound direction by Kouji Tsujitani (FREEZING) and music by Kenji Kawai (TOWANOQUON). Sentai Filmworks’ release will feature an all new, high definition transfer. Raised by a mysterious sorcerer after the horrific death of his parents, Shiro Emiya has only just begun to help others using the small tidbits of magic that he’s learned. However, when he’s suddenly caught in a battle between two more powerful Magus, Shiro finds himself performing a spell above his expected ability, summoning the beautiful spirit warrior Saber to protect him! But safety is only momentary as Shiro and Saber now find themselves

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